Chapter Twenty-One: The Corpse King Blossom

Ma Yi was drenched in cold sweat from fear, thankful that his opponent's teeth were not serrated like a saw; if they had been, his life would have been over.

“Hey? Brother, you can’t do this,” Ma Yi muttered, frustrated as he watched his precious treasure being toyed with. It actually stood up, huffing indignantly, making him question his own sanity—how could he feel anything for a zombie? Even if this female zombie was beautiful, she seemed more like an alien, perhaps a mutant or some other species.

The female zombie, noticing the reaction in her hands, broke into a smile. Surprisingly, she looked quite appealing when she smiled.

When Ma Yi finally left the village, it was impossible to imagine how long he'd been tormented by her—a suffering that gnawed at his soul, yet brought a physical ecstasy few could comprehend. In the back of his pickup truck lay a thousand-pound domestic pig, its mouth bristling with tusks, though its bristly hair resembled sharp needles—a throwback to its wild ancestors.

Wild boar meat was tastier than domestic pork, but Ma Yi found it utterly flavorless now. His craving had led him out in search of meat, but why bother? The Spanish 5J ham at home, the top-grade beef—all were superior. Now, thanks to that female zombie, he found himself threatened, her interest in him growing ever more sinister.

“I remember your scent. Next time, if you don’t come, I’ll track you down and kill you, eat you.” Helpless, Ma Yi asked when “next time” would be. The answer: when that bright thing overhead rose again—damn, that meant tomorrow. He’d gone hungry all day, not eating much, only giving, his stomach growling from emptiness.

He couldn’t fight her, nor escape, and thinking about his torment nearly broke his spirit, tears streaming inwardly.

At the dinner table, eating fresh, evolved pork, Ma Yi found it tasteless, chewing wax no matter how good it was. The thought of returning to the female zombie tomorrow erased any pleasure. If he didn’t go, she’d come for him—he wasn’t afraid for himself, but what about Liu Wen, Liu Xue, and their families?

“What’s wrong?” Liu Wen noticed something different about Ma Yi, asking with concern. She sensed something strange about him today.

“Nothing, just thinking about some things,” Ma Yi forced a faint smile, sighing inwardly and resigning himself.

“Isn’t the pressure too much lately?” His mother-in-law, Chen Fang, observed him. He was clearly less cheerful than before, his face etched with pain.

“No, really, it’s nothing,” Ma Yi tried to make his smile look more natural.

“Sometimes you just need to relax. I spent half my life chasing achievements, but in the end, being a wealthy gentleman is far more comfortable,” Liu Wen’s father, Liu Guoliang, sighed.

“Mm, I understand,” Ma Yi nodded and continued eating, his appetite much smaller than yesterday, leaving plenty of food uneaten.

Ma Yi came again. For half a month, he’d gone out every day. Liu Wen didn’t ask, but Liu Xue complained and even accused him of seeing someone else. Ma Yi could only smile bitterly—there was no other woman, just that female zombie who had practically kept him.

The female zombie was delighted to see Ma Yi, immediately tormenting him. He felt he’d grown thinner these days, while she seemed even more spirited. After each session, she’d flash a mysterious smile and depart.

Ma Yi lay exhausted on the muddy ground, his eyes numb and weary. Yet, he wasn’t without gains; he was still growing, now approaching three and a half meters tall.

“What’s this?” Ma Yi suddenly sat up, his nose catching a fragrance that cut through to his lungs.

The female zombie, whom Ma Yi named Blossom, sashayed over, swinging her hips. She liked the name, showing genuine happiness. In her hand was a slab of fresh, blood-red meat that caught Ma Yi’s attention.

He swallowed—about two pounds, devoid of any bloody odor, yet radiating an irresistible aroma. His stomach growled, urging him to eat.

“What is this?” Despite his hunger, Ma Yi resisted, wary of consuming human or zombie flesh.

“Moo moo,” Blossom’s voice echoed in his mind, leaving him confused.

Her tail coiled around his arm, pulling him toward a massive bull lying dead on the ground, a gaping wound on its back. The bull’s horn—over a meter long—had been cleanly sliced, its legs severed; clearly, it had been trapped for some time, only dying today, likely at the mercy of Blossom’s sharp tail blade.

Seeing it was beef, Ma Yi relaxed, eating heartily without guilt. Blossom watched him devour the meat, her cold eyes softened by amusement.

The red meat was elastic, like a gummy candy, with a hint of sweetness. As Ma Yi swallowed the two pounds of strange meat, his fatigue vanished, and his skin began shifting from pale purple-bronze to pure silvery-white. His body grew visibly, nearing four meters tall.

“Damn, this is like an elixir!” Ma Yi looked at his silver skin and his height surpassing four meters—his strength now more than double what it was before. He felt brimming with power, unable to resist howling triumphantly at the sky, exhilarated by his newfound might.

He was now on a whole new level, and looking at Blossom, Ma Yi no longer felt threatened. A mischievous smile crept onto his face—perhaps it was time to turn the tables.

Blossom got a beating from Ma Yi—a thorough one, pinned across his thigh and spanked. At first, Blossom seemed like a seven- or eight-year-old child, but over time her intelligence grew, reaching that of a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old. She had evolved from pure animal instinct—submission or death, pleasure or sustenance—to communicating well with Ma Yi, sometimes even uttering simple human words. Compared to Iron Pillar, who had followed Ma Yi for ages but couldn’t even respond with a “yes” or “understood,” Blossom was remarkable.

Having endured her dominance for so long, Ma Yi had even contemplated suicide, always plotting how to overthrow her tyranny. Now, he’d succeeded, thanks to her help. The taste of freedom was sweet, and seeing Blossom’s butt turn red under his hand filled him with pride. Her little tail kept lashing and poking him, but now Ma Yi endured it easily—perhaps Blossom had developed feelings for him, as her attacks were now as gentle as a girl’s playful punches.

Even with caution, the bone blade on Blossom’s tail still left marks, occasional wounds on Ma Yi’s skin. But as his body continued to strengthen, absorbing the meat, these injuries healed instantly.

His skin was now brighter than both Iron Pillar and Hammer, resembling a statue carved from pure silver.

Yet, compared to Blossom, Ma Yi’s silvery hue was still somewhat dull—her level clearly higher. But Ma Yi was different; he was a mutant. When he was pale gray, he could fight with Iron Pillar; when he was silvery, he could bully Hammer. Now, as a fully silver Ma Yi, he no longer feared Blossom.

“So, will you submit to me or keep taking your punishment?” Ma Yi asked gleefully, smacking her resilient backside with his large hand.

Blossom glared angrily, resisting with all her might.

Ma Yi wasn’t worried—he kept spanking and teasing, confident he wouldn’t hurt Blossom. Iron Pillar was nearly impenetrable, and Blossom’s silver shine was even more dazzling. Besides, spanking such a bouncy butt felt quite satisfying.

For Ma Yi, it was both revenge and enjoyment. From any perspective, he had to subdue this formidable creature. As he vented his past frustrations, he began to savor the memories of those moments when his soul nearly soared into the heavens.